JP2965256B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to image forming conditions such as the number of frames of an ultrasonic image, depth of field, viewing angle or width, and maximum blood flow velocity. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having setting means.

(Prior Art) A conventional sector electronic scan type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a second
It is configured as shown in the figure. In this sector scan type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the transducer 1 is composed of a plurality of juxtaposed arrays (for example, 64 arrays). Each array is driven by 64 channels of pulses having different delay times generated by the transmission delay unit 3 and amplified by the 64 channels of pulsars 2. Thereby, wavefronts of ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective elements of the vibrator 1 at different timings, and these are combined to form an ultrasonic beam in an arbitrary direction, which is transmitted toward the living body.

Here, by changing the delay time of the pulse applied to each element, the ultrasonic beam can be scanned in a sector shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the ultrasonic beam is transmitted to the living body in that region. The ultrasonic beam transmitted into the living body is reflected by, for example, a discontinuous region between an organ and a tissue in the living body, and is received by the vibrator 1 as an ultrasonic echo. The ultrasonic echo output from each element of the vibrator 1 is amplified by a preamplifier group 4 of 64 channels, and a reception delay unit 5 gives a delay time similar to the delay time given to the echo of each channel at the time of transmission. The timing of the ultrasonic echo of each channel is aligned.

At that time, the reception focus is applied to an appropriate area.
Thereafter, the outputs of the respective channels are added to form one reception echo, which is input to the receiver 6 and subjected to envelope detection. Further, after being input to the DSC 7 and converted into a TV scan, it is output to the display unit 8 as a B-mode image or an M-mode image showing the structure in the living body.

The received echo is input to the Doppler detector 9, and a Doppler shift frequency proportional to a blood flow velocity generated by a flowing blood flow in the living body is detected. This is subjected to frequency analysis to obtain a Doppler frequency spectrum, an average Doppler shift frequency, and the like. These are input to the DSC 7 and scan-converted, and then output to the display unit 8 as Doppler images indicating blood flow information.

Here, the operation of each unit is controlled by the controller 10. The controller 10 has a PRF setting unit 11 having a switch SWa for switching the pulse repetition frequency PRF, and a viewing angle setting unit 1 having a switch SWb for switching the viewing angle θ.
2 is connected. This PRF setting unit 11, viewing angle setting unit 12
The following equation (1) number of frames N _F settings based on the setting of the maximum depth of field Dmax based on equation (2), so that the maximum blood flow velocity Vmax on the basis of the equation (3) is set.

N _F = PRF / (N _SL · N _HT ) (1) where N _SL ; number of scanning lines N _HT ; number of transmissions and receptions per scanning line PRF; ultrasonic pulse repetition frequency [Hz] Dmax = C / 2 PRF (2) where C: sound velocity in the living body (C to 1.53 × 10 ⁵ cm / sec) Vmax = C · PRF / 4 · f ₀ · cosα (3) where f ₀ ; ultrasonic pulse center frequency [Hz] alpha of; although angle also θ of the ultrasound beam and the blood flow is typically 90 °, for example in the case of a color Doppler image is 10 times the transmission and reception circuit N _HT per scan line It needs to be as much as possible. In this case in order to prevent the extreme decrease in the number of frames N _F, reducing the number of scanning lines N _SL. Therefore, if a 90 ° scan is performed in this state, the intervals between the scanning lines are too wide, and it is not possible to obtain a sufficient image quality even if interpolation is performed. Therefore, θ is often set to 30 ° or more and 60 ° or less.

Here, when the power is turned on, the pulse repetition frequency PRF by the controller 10, the viewing angle theta, the maximum depth of field Dmax, for example N _F = 30 to become as each 4 KHz, 90 °, it is initially set to 20 cm. Thereafter, for example, when the color Doppler mode is selected, the maximum blood flow velocity Vmax is added, and the controller 10 respectively sets 4 KHz, 45 °, 20 cm, 0.54 m to ensure, for example, N _F = 10.
Set to / sec.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has the following problems. That is, the maximum value of the frame number N _F is represented by Formula (1), for example, to increase the set number of frames N _F, increase the PRF, N _SL or
N _HT needs to be reduced. That is, the operator must perform an operation such as reducing the viewing angle θ, and maintain the consistency of these parameters, and the operation has become extremely complicated. Also, when the setting of Dmax, the setting of Vmax, and the setting of θ were changed, the operation became very complicated similarly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the operation of setting mutually dependent image forming conditions is simple and the operation burden on the operator can be reduced.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention scans the inside of a subject under ultrasonic scanning conditions obtained based on a plurality of parameters relating to an image configuration. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates and displays image data based on a received signal received, a parameter setting condition registration that registers an interlocking order and a change range in advance for each of the parameters that are dependent on each other with respect to the ultrasonic scan condition Means, input means for changing at least one of the plurality of parameters, and remaining means for maintaining consistency between the parameters when at least one of the plurality of parameters is changed by the input means. Parameter changing means for changing parameters within each change range in accordance with the interlocking order is provided.

(Operation) The configuration of the present invention has the following operation. When one of the plurality of parameters relating to the image configuration is changed, the remaining parameters are followed in accordance with the pre-registered interlocking order, and the consistency between the parameters is maintained within a pre-registered change range. To be changed. As a result, the burden on the operator involved in setting the parameters can be reduced.

(Embodiment) First, the ultrasonic scan condition in the present invention has a plurality of options, and the options are, for example, a linear scan, a sector scan, and a pulse transmission frequency. The signal processing condition has a plurality of options, and the options are, for example, B-mode processing, M-mode processing, D-mode processing, and DF processing. The image display condition has a plurality of options, and the options are, for example, enlargement or reduction of display and color processing. The registration means sets and registers in advance a combination of options under the above conditions.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image configuration parameter setting unit as a main part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. The image configuration parameter setting unit 30 as a registration unit
Is connected to the controller 10 shown in FIG. 2, and includes a parameter setting condition input unit 14, an input unit 31, a priority circuit 32, a limiting circuit 33,
It is composed of a decoder 23.

The parameter setting condition input unit 14 is for inputting an interlocking sequence and a change range of the configuration parameter as a combination of the selection options over the respective conditions. This is a parameter setting condition registration unit that registers an order in advance and a change range of each configuration parameter in advance. The parameter setting condition input unit 14 is various input devices such as a keyboard and a trackball. Here configuration parameters, frame number N _F of the respective choices of the image display conditions and signal processing conditions, depth of field Dmax, the maximum blood flow velocity
Vmax, viewing angle θ, and the ultrasonic pulse repetition frequency PRF, the number of scanning lines N _SL , the number of transmissions and receptions N _HT per scanning line as selection options of the ultrasonic scanning conditions by the decoder 23
Is converted to

The input unit 31 includes a frame input unit 24 to increase or decrease set the frame number N _F by switching the switch SW _1, depth of field input unit 2 to increase or decrease setting the depth of field Dmax by switching the switch SW ₂
5, the maximum blood flow speed input unit 26, the viewing angle θ switch SW ₄ to increase and decrease the setting value of the maximum blood flow velocity Vmax by switching the switch SW ₃
And a viewing angle input unit 27 that is set to increase or decrease by switching.

Priority circuit 32, N _F other Dmax, Vmax, N _F priority circuit 15, Dmax the N _F to prioritize relative theta, Vmax, Dmax priority circuit 16 to give priority relative theta, Vmax and N _F, Dmax , and θ, and a θ priority circuit 18 that gives priority to N _F , Dmax, and Vmax.

Limiting circuit 33, N _F limiting circuit for limiting the range of variation of N _F
19, a Dmax limiting circuit 20 for limiting the changing range of Dmax, a Vmax limiting circuit 21 for limiting the changing range of Vmax, and a θ limiting circuit 22 for limiting the changing range of θ. When the parameters are changed by the input unit 31, the priority circuit 32 and the limiting circuit 33 function as parameter changing means for changing the remaining parameters within each change range in accordance with the interlocking order.

When any one of the input units 31 is operated, the parameter setting condition input unit 14 issues an interlocking order command of configuration parameters registered in advance in each of the priority circuits 15 to 18 related to the input unit. And a change range command for a configuration parameter is given to each of the limiting circuits 19 to 22. The output of the decoder 23 is connected to the controller 10.

Next, the operation of the image configuration parameter setting unit 30 will be described first.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. First, one of the switches of the input unit 31 is operated to switch and set the configuration parameter to increase or decrease. Then, the configuration parameters associated conjunction with this is read from the input unit 14 registered in advance, interlocking order instruction N _F preference circuit 15 of the configuration parameters, Dma
The signals are output to the x priority circuit 16, the Vmax priority circuit 17, and the θ priority circuit 18.

The range of variation of the configuration parameters read from the input unit 14 registered in advance, the variation range command similarly N _F limiting circuit 19 of each configuration parameter, Dmax limiting circuit 20, Vmax limiting circuit 2
1, is output to the θ limiting circuit 22. Each configuration parameter is set by the priority circuit 32 and the limiting circuit 33 in accordance with the interlocking order registered in the parameter setting condition input unit 14, and is converted into the corresponding PRF, N _SL , and N _HT by the decoder 23.
It is input to the controller 10 shown in FIG.

Therefore, the operator only needs to switch one of the switches of the input unit, and there is no need to operate the other switches, so that the operability is improved.

As a result, the operation burden on the operator can be reduced, and the diagnosis time can be reduced. In addition, since the contents of the diagnosis registered by the operator in advance are read, a diagnosis mode desired by the operator can be obtained.

Next, a case where the number of frames _NF is increased will be described based on a specific embodiment. Using first pre connected to the input unit 14 input unit, it registers the order of interlocking of the configuration parameters for the frame number N _F to the input unit 14 theta, Dmax, to Vmax. The registers the variation range of the configuration parameters of each 10 ≦ N _F ≦ 30,30 ° ≦ theta ≦ 90 °, 10 cm ≦ Dmax, to 0.5m / sec ≦ Vmax.

Next, SW ₁ connected to the frame input unit 24 is set to the number of frames N
Set to the side where _F increases. In conjunction with this, the configuration parameters θ, Dmax, and Vmax are read from the input unit 14 registered in advance, and the configuration parameter interlocking order command is transmitted to the Dmax priority circuit 16, Vmax.
The signals are output to the max priority circuit 17 and the θ priority circuit 18. In addition, the change range of each configuration parameter 10 ≦ N _F ≦ 30, 30 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °, 10 cm
≦ Dmax, 0.5 m / sec ≦ Vmax is read out from the input unit 14 registered in advance, and the change range command of each configuration parameter is similarly N _F
The signals are output to a limiting circuit 19, a Dmax limiting circuit 20, a Vmax limiting circuit 21, and a θ limiting circuit 22.

And until the number of frames N _F reaches the upper limit 30 is set viewing angle by first θ priority circuit 18 becomes smaller so as to follow up the viewing angle θ reaches the lower limit value 30 °. Further, when the viewing angle θ reaches the lower limit 30 °, the depth of field is set by the Dmax priority circuit 16 and the Dmax follows until the Dmax reaches the lower limit 10 cm.

Here, when the Doppler mode is selected and the blood flow information is also detected and displayed, when Dmax further reaches the lower limit value of 10 cm, the maximum blood flow velocity is set by the Vmax priority circuit 17 and Vmax changes. Be eligible.

Similarly, when any one of Dmax, Vmax, and θ is operated first, similar processing can be performed according to the interlocking order and the change range registered in the input unit 14 in advance. For example, if the initial registration is in the B mode, N _F = 10, Dmax = 20 cm,
In the case of θ = 90 °, color Doppler mode, N _F = 10, Dmax = 2
0 cm, θ = 60 °, and Vmax = 0.54 m / sec.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when a target parameter is changed, the remaining parameters are automatically changed so that consistency between the parameters is maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to easily set the image configuration parameters, which are difficult due to the mutual relationship, and to reduce the burden on the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image configuration parameter setting unit as a main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. is there. 1 ... vibrator, 2 ... pulser group, 3 ... transmission delay section, 4
... Preamplifier group, 5 ... Reception delay unit, 6 ... Receiver, 7 ... DSC, 8 ... Display unit, 9 ... Doppler detection unit, 1
0: Controller, 11: PRF setting unit, 12: Viewing angle setting unit, 14: Parameter setting condition input unit, 30: Image configuration parameter setting unit, 31: Input unit, 32: Priority circuit,
33: Limiting circuit, 23: Decoder.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A scanning unit that scans the inside of the subject under ultrasonic scanning conditions obtained based on a plurality of parameters relating to an image configuration, and generates image data based on an obtained reception signal;
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to be displayed, parameter setting condition registration means for registering an interlocking order and a change range in advance for each of the parameters dependent on each other with respect to the ultrasonic scan condition; and at least one of the plurality of parameters. Input means for changing; and when at least one of the plurality of parameters is changed by the input means, the remaining parameters are changed within each change range in accordance with the interlocking order such that consistency between the parameters is maintained. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising parameter changing means for changing.